Following Senate passage of critically important drought relief legislation that delivers $7 million in targeted grant-based relief to livestock and specialty crop producers and an additional $1.5 million in low-interest loans, Senate DFL Leader Melisa López Franzen and DFL Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee said they will continue to push to finalize the package as it heads to a House-Senate conference committee.
“I’m glad to join with my colleagues in moving this relief one step closer to being in the pockets of our farmers” says Senator Kent Eken (DFL – Audubon). “While I’m happy to see this relief moving forward, it’s important my colleagues understand that this alone will not save our family farms. We must deliver more support to Minnesota’s farmers. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting permanent and substantial property tax relief, regulatory relief, local government aid increases, and ensuring our rural communities have access to great public schools and affordable healthcare.”
“This important funding is going to those who need it most – farmers who have been hit hard by last year’s devastating drought. That’s exactly where taxpayer money should be going,” said Senator Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato). “Minnesotans have always stood up and helped those in need when disaster hits. This bill keeps faith with that tradition by helping producers who, through no fault of their own, have hit on hard times. Now, we need to get it out to farmers as soon as we can.”
“We have been pushing for months to get Senate approval of this urgent relief, and today we got it finally got it done,” Said Senate DFL Leader Melisa López Franzen. “Our farmers in every area of the state, were hit hard last year by a devastating, costly, and prolonged drought that pushed many to the brink. This relief has been a priority for the DFL Caucus, for the governor and for our producers across the state. Now we have to get it over the finish line and signed into law so that producers can get back on their feet.”
“Our farmers have been waiting since last summer for help to address the disastrous drought conditions they faced, and it is about time that we get this work passed off of the Senate Floor,” said Senator Erin Murphy (DFL – Saint Paul), ranking DFL-Lead on the Agriculture Committee. “This assistance is overdue, but it is also just the first step we can take this year in helping our farmers succeed.”
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